Stroudsburg school board members reluctant to cut programs to fill $3.1M budget gap

Wednesday

May 1, 2013 at 12:01 AM

The budget discussion didn't get very far Tuesday evening in Stroudsburg Area School District, where school board officials found themselves stalled over spending cuts.

CHRISTINA TATU

The budget discussion didn't get very far Tuesday evening in Stroudsburg Area School District, where school board officials found themselves stalled over spending cuts.

After cutting more than 50 teaching positions, driver's education and a fourth-year social studies requirement last year, district officials are finding it especially difficult to eliminate a projected $3.1 million deficit from the 2013-14 budget.

Included in that projected deficit are $2.1 million from increasing retirement and health care costs and $950,000 officials took from the district's fund balance to cover expenses in the current school year.

The fund balance, which is like the district's savings account, would eventually be depleted if it were used for continuing expenses, officials have said.

The board plans to continue its discussion at their 6:30 p.m. meeting tonight in the high school cafeteria.

One thing made clear at Tuesday's meeting is if the board eliminates any more staff members, they will have to eliminate programs.

"We are down more than 100 staff members within the last four to five years," said Superintendent John Toleno.

It's at the point where there are certain electives where more students have signed up than there are teachers available to teach the classes, he said.

For example, about 17 sections of high school students have signed up for 2013-14 art classes, but there are only enough teachers available to teach 14 sections.

"It becomes a first come, first serve situation," Toleno said.

The number of students allowed per class section varies depending on the course, he said.

The district already combined its fourth and fifth level elective classes last year.

So far, budget saving suggestions include eliminating the $500,000 purchase of school buses next year, said School Board President Rodney Baechtold Jr.

The district also budgets 1.5 mills for technology every year.

It was suggested officials use a portion of the money raised from that tax to fill a vacant director of technology position.

Any money left over would go into the district's technology fund.

Board members also briefly discussed at their April 17 meeting, the possibility of eliminating a fourth year math and science requirement, but that suggestion never went anywhere.

Board members have remained reluctant to eliminate anymore programming, Baechtold said.

"The driving cost for this district is salaries and benefits," said board member Bill Martin, who after Tuesday's meeting suggested the board take the $3.1 million from their $8.8 million fund balance.

Member Merlyn Clarke suggested the board borrow the money, adding the $3.1 million to a $4 million bond they plan to approve at tonight's meeting.

The bond will be used to implement a variety of district-wide energy saving projects recommended by Johnson Controls Inc. in a recent energy audit.